Majapahit may be larger than believed

A new archaeological find 12km from the traditional centre of the Majapahit capital region, but contemporary to it may suggest that the boundaries of the capital is larger than currently believed. Ceramics containing the symbol of Majapahit royalty were found in this site.

A recent archeological find in Puri village, Mojokerto regency, East Java, thought to date from the ancient Majapahit empire indicates that the capital of the empire may have been larger than a municipality in Jakarta.

Lead archeologist from the Indonesian Ancient Relics Conservation Bureau (BP3), Danang Wahyu Putro, said this hypothesis was supported by the fact that the new find was located 12 kilometers from Trowulan village, believed to be the center of the Majapahit town.

â€œSome academics have concluded that the capital spanned 99 square kilometers,â€ he said, saying this evidence may prove that the capital was larger than this, only a little less than the size of West Jakarta and almost twice the size of Central Jakarta.

Preliminary studies of the 196-square-meter find and several relics found in the vicinity point to the site being built toward the end of the Majapahit empire in the 15th century.